Raymonda is one of the most elegant and celebrated ballets of all time – and rarely seen in its entirety.
It was the creation of Marius Petipa (the renowned Maître de Ballet to the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres), the composer Alexander Glazunov, the director of the St. Petersburg Imperial Theatres Ivan Vsevolozhsky, and the author and columnist Countess Lidiya Pashkova.
Scenario is based on medieval knight's legends.

Libretto by Yuri Grigorovich after scenario by Lidia
Pashkova,based on medieval knight`s legends

Additional information

Act I
Raymonda, the niece of the Countess Sybil de Daurice, à French noblewoman, is betrothed to Jean de Brienne.
De Brienne arrives at the castle. Íå has come to bid farewell to Raymonda before leaving to go on à crusade led by the King of Hungary, Andrei II.
Raymonda says goodbye tî her beloved and the knight leaves the castle.
Night-time. Raymonda is carring into the enchanted garden of dreams. In her dreams Raymonda sees Jean de Brienne. The happy lovers are together again.
Suddenly Jean de Brienne disappears.
In his place Raymonda sees an Eastern knight whom she does not know. Íå confronts her with à passionate declaration of his love. Raymonda is deeply perturbed and falls unconscious to the ground. The mirage vanishes.
Dawn breaks. Raymonda decides that the vision she had in the night is an omen.

Act II
Festivities are underway at the Dayrice castle.
Among the guests is the Saracen knight, Abderakhman, accompanied by à magnificent suite. Raymonda recognizes him to be the mysterious stranger of her dream. She is terrified. Abderakhman offers Raymonda power and riches in return for her hand and heart. Raymonda rejects Abderakhman. Enraged, Abderakhman tries to abduct her.
Suddenly knights appear. They have returned from the crusade. Jean de Brienne is among them.
King Andrei Ï suggests that Jean de Brienne and Abderakhman settle their diffårences in single combat. Jean de Brienne gets the better of Abderakhman. The lovers are united.

Act III
King Andrei II blesses the marriage of Raymonda ànd Jåàn de Brienne. In honour of the King of Hungary, the wedding festivities are concluded by à big Hungarian dance.